3. Stress -- life changes, changes in the routine or number of household members, or just about any change you can think of.

If he's pooping right next to the box, I'd start by assuming that either the litter box or cat litter is not to his liking, or he's associating pain with defecating in the box and just can't bring himself to use it.

Has he been constipated? He may no longer be, but is still associating pain with the box.

Has anything changed? Frequency of box cleaning? Type of litter? Location of the box? Routines?

Try thoroughly cleaning out the box and replacing the litter with the exact type of litter he liked before. Add Cat Attract. Then, add another box right on the spot he's currently using.

Is he under any stress? Try to figure out what that stress might be and a resolution.

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